User Guide - Managing Your Domain Name

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name is essentially the address of your website; it helps your visitors remember your site, and find it easily. So, when you select a domain name, try to make it as descriptive as possible - for example: BestDogGrooming.com, QualityPlumbing.biz, or AdamsFamilyBlog.info.

Your domain name also becomes a part of your email address - for example: John@AdamsFamilyBlog.info. Essentially, registering a domain (or adding a domain to your hosting account) is the next step towards building a website.

When you sign up for a hosting account, you're typically given the option to register a new domain name. If you signed up without registering a domain, you can register one later. You may also point any other domain names you already own to your new hosting account. Keep reading to find out how to register, add, consolidate, manage, and renew your domains.

Using DomainCentral

DomainCentral simplifies domain management. First, it's a central location where you can see all of your domains in one table, along with their various registrars, expirations dates, renewal options, and much more.

Second, from DomainCentral, you can configure domain options (for multiple domains at a time), edit domain information, and add services.

The basic process of using DomainCentral consists of these steps:

Consolidate your existing domains into DomainCentral

Manage all your domains

Renew your domains

The following sections walk you through each of these steps.

Consolidate All Domains into DomainCentral

If you registered domain names in different places, they will integrate into your account in different ways. Here are the possible domain types and instructions how to merge them into your hosting account:

Existing and New Domains: Domains you registered when you purchased your hosting account or domains that you registered later, through iPage. Any domains you have registered through your iPage account are automatically listed in DomainCentral

Added Domains: Domains you have registered elsewhere, which you'd like pointed to your iPage account. If you've registered domains elsewhere and want to manage them through DomainCentral, follow the instructions in this article.

Secure Your Domain: Lock your domain so that it cannot be transferred to a different registrar unless you (the owner) unlock it first. Prevent name server changes, unwanted renewals and contact from spammers with Name Safe and Domain Privacy.

Renew Your Domain

Renewing your domain name is a critical part of maintaining your website. If you've registered your domain with iPage, or transferred your domain registrar to iPage's registrar, you can renew your domain manually in DomainCentral, or enroll in our Automated Domain Renewal Service.